Career Takeoff: Kaylee’s Journey From Intern To Finance Manager

Note: This is part of a series featuring Honor Team Members who started as interns.

By Kaylee Ronn | Honor CU

In December of 2016, I joined team Honor as an intern within the “Becoming Part of It” program. My internship began during a time when I was still unsure what career path I wanted to take as I was just halfway through my Sophomore year at Western Michigan University (WMU). Backpedal to a few months earlier; I originally wanted to work in the field of Public Relations, but shortly realized public speaking was not for me, and that I seemed to gravitate towards math-related courses.

When my internship at Honor began, I was primarily working with the Accounting Team in the Finance and Accounting Department. A majority of what I was learning to do, went hand in hand with my accounting courses at WMU. Within the next year, I moved up in my role from a seasonal intern to a part-time Finance Clerk.

This opportunity from Honor had a major impact on helping me decide what I wanted to be. Honor made sure to challenge me where I needed it and expanded my ability to work not only with the Accounting team, but also the Finance team. I was able to explore different possibilities for an Accounting or Finance professional.

This exploration assisted me in realizing that I enjoyed Finance and that I wanted to pursue a career in Financial Analytics after college. I let the Honor team know what career path I was interested in, and they assigned me to projects that would grow me professionally, emotionally, and develop me intellectually in the direction that I was passionate about.

This opportunity from Honor had a major impact on helping me decide what I wanted to be.

Kaylee Ronn
Finance Manager & Former Intern

During my Senior Year at Western, I considered the possibility of continuing a professional career with Honor upon graduation. I wanted to continue working with Honor as I not only enjoyed the industry I had been working in for the past few years, but that I also felt empowered to enter an industry and remain with a company that my late grandfather and late mother had worked with throughout their lifetimes.

Honor’s four core values of Integrity, respect, fairness, and truth – align with values that I follow in my regular day to day life. Lastly, Growth is something I value intensely. With all the growth that I experienced at Honor before graduation, I knew that this would continue after graduation as well.

Looking back at the past three and a half years since I first on-boarded with Honor, I truly have come a long way. I have gained tremendous knowledge about the financial industry, myself, and professional development. I appreciate the opportunities and experiences that I have had as Honor has helped me realize what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be.